Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, Program, And Information Processing System

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus including an execution unit, a generation unit, a first request unit, and a second request unit. The execution unit is capable of executing first information processing. The generation unit is configured to generate a display image including first information associated with first access information for accessing the execution unit and second information associated with second access information for accessing a server on a global network, the server being capable of executing second information processing. The first request unit is configured to request the execution unit to execute the first information processing based on the first access information associated with the first information. The second request unit is configured to request the server to execute the second information processing based on the second access information associated with the second information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/971,365, filed on May 4, 2018, issuing as U.S. Pat. No.10,595,089 on Mar. 17, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/565,961, filed on Aug. 3, 2012, issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,992,542 on Jun. 5, 2018, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. JP 2011-177009 filed in the Japanese PatentOffice on Aug. 12, 2011, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus,an information processing method, a program, and an informationprocessing system that are capable of using network services provided bya server on a global network.

From the past, television receivers and video apparatuses that arecapable of connecting to the Internet and the like have been known. Forexample, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-318475(hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a televisionreceiver that is capable of acquiring, from a server on the Internet,information corresponding to a television program that is currentlybeing viewed (see, for example, paragraphs [0070] and [0071] inspecification and FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1).

SUMMARY

It is considered that household electrical appliances capable of usingnetwork services provided by a server on a global network like thetelevision receiver disclosed in Patent Document 1 will continue toprevail.

In view of the circumstances as described above, there is a need for aninformation processing apparatus, an information processing method, aprogram, and an information processing system that have high operabilityand are capable of using network services.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is providedan information processing apparatus including an execution unit, ageneration unit, a first request unit, and a second request unit.

The execution unit is capable of executing first information processing.

The generation unit is configured to generate a display image includingfirst information associated with first access information for accessingthe execution unit and second information associated with second accessinformation for accessing a server on a global network, the server beingcapable of executing second information processing.

The first request unit is configured to request the execution unit toexecute the first information processing based on the first accessinformation associated with the first information.

The second request unit is configured to request the server to executethe second information processing based on the second access informationassociated with the second information.

In the information processing apparatus, a display image including thefirst information associated with the first access information and thesecond information associated with the second access information isgenerated. The first access information is information used foraccessing the execution unit of the information processing apparatus,and the execution unit is requested to execute the first informationprocessing based on the first access information. The second accessinformation is information used for accessing the server on the globalnetwork, and the server is requested to execute the second informationprocessing based on the second access information. As described above,the executions of the first and second information processing arerequested based on the first and second access information. As a result,user operability can be improved.

The information processing apparatus may further include a broadcastsignal processor configured to receive a program of a channel selectedfrom a plurality of channels by a user and output the program. In thiscase, the display image may include a display area for displaying theprogram, and the first information processing may include switchprocessing of the channels.

As described above, the display image including the first and secondinformation may include a display area for displaying a program. Forexample, the channel switch processing is executed when a user selectsthe first information.

The first information processing may include analysis processing formusic that is being played in the program.

The analysis processing for music that is being played in the programmay be executed when the user selects the first information as describedabove, for example.

The first access information and the second access information may eachbe a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

As described above, a URL may be used as the first and second accessinformation. As a result, a webpage or the like in which a hyperlink toa URL of the server and a hyperlink to a URL of the execution unit existcan be generated as the display image.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is providedan information processing method including executing, by an executionunit, first information processing.

By a generation unit, a display image including first informationassociated with first access information for accessing the executionunit and second information associated with second access informationfor accessing a server on a global network is generated, the serverbeing capable of executing second information processing.

By a first request unit, the execution unit is requested to execute thefirst information processing based on the first access informationassociated with the first information.

By a second request unit, the server is requested to execute the secondinformation processing based on the second access information associatedwith the second information.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda program that causes a computer to function as an execution unit, ageneration unit, a first request unit, and a second request unit.

The execution unit is capable of executing first information processing.

The generation unit is configured to generate a display image includingfirst information associated with first access information for accessingthe execution unit and second information associated with second accessinformation for accessing a server on a global network, the server beingcapable of executing second information processing.

The first request unit is configured to request the execution unit toexecute the first information processing based on the first accessinformation associated with the first information.

The second request unit configured to request the server to execute thesecond information processing based on the second access informationassociated with the second information.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is providedan information processing system including a first informationprocessing terminal and a second information processing terminal.

The first information processing terminal is capable of executing firstinformation processing.

The second information processing terminal is capable of being connectedto the first information processing terminal via a local network andincludes a generation unit, a first request unit, and a second requestunit.

The generation unit generates a display image including firstinformation associated with first access information for accessing thefirst information processing terminal and second information associatedwith second access information for accessing a server on a globalnetwork, the server being capable of executing second informationprocessing.

The first request unit requests the first information processingterminal to execute the first information processing based on the firstaccess information associated with the first information.

The second request unit requests the server to execute the secondinformation processing based on the second access information associatedwith the second information.

As described above, the first information processing terminal thatexecutes the first information processing and the second informationprocessing terminal that is capable of generating a display image andrequesting the first information processing terminal and the server toexecute the information processing may be connected via the localnetwork. As a result, operability of the user using the secondinformation processing terminal can be improved.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is providedan information processing apparatus including a generation unit, a firstrequest unit, and a second request unit.

The generation unit is configured to generate a display image includingfirst information associated with first access information for accessingan information processing terminal on a local network, that is capableof executing first information processing, and second informationassociated with second access information for accessing a server on aglobal network, the server being capable of executing second informationprocessing.

The first request unit is configured to request the informationprocessing terminal to execute the first information processing based onthe first access information associated with the first information.

The second request unit is configured to request the server to executethe second information processing based on the second access informationassociated with the second information.

As described above, according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, an information processing apparatus, an informationprocessing method, a program, and an information processing system thathave high operability and are capable of using network services can beprovided.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become more apparent in light of the following detaileddescription of best mode embodiments thereof, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network system including aninformation processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a structural example ofthe information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a structural example ofsoftware constituting the information processing apparatus shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display imagegenerated by a web browser shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram schematically showing a flow of channelswitch processing according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram schematically showing a flow of firstinformation processing according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram schematically showing a flow of secondinformation processing carried out by a server on the Internet shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a display image at a time a titleof Program A in the display image shown in FIG. 4 and a thumbnail imageof Program A are selected;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the display image at a time one ofcast names of Program A in the display image shown in FIG. 4 isselected;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the display image at a time athumbnail image of a work related to Program A in the display imageshown in FIG. 4, a title of the work, a title of music (BGM) played inProgram A, and a thumbnail image of the music are selected;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the display image at a time acomment related to Program A in the display image shown in FIG. 4 isselected;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a network system including aninformation processing apparatus and an information processing systemaccording to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a mobile terminal, for explainingan example of an operation of the information processing system shown inFIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the displayimage shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a network system including aninformation processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

The network system 100 includes the Internet 10 as a global network andan information processing apparatus 200 of this embodiment connectableto the Internet 10. The network system 100 also includes a plurality ofservers 300 capable of providing network services to the informationprocessing apparatus 200 via the Internet 10.

The Internet 10 is typically a network that uses TCP/IP (TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol), though global networks using otherprotocols may be used instead.

Examples of the network services provided to the information processingapparatus 200 from the servers 300 include provisions of movie contents,music contents, and the like, provisions of news information and thelike, managements of online bulletin boards, intermediacies of onlinechats, and provisions of games, though not limited thereto. Variousnetwork services may be provided.

For example, the servers 300 uses the WWW (World Wide Web) system toopen a website constituted of a plurality of webpages on the Internet10. The webpage is an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) document, andinformation such as an image and music, hyperlinks to other webpages,and the like are embedded in the document. Moreover, in the webpage, astyle sheet for enhancing design of a webpage, a script for allowing afunction that cannot be realized by HTML to be exhibited, and the likeare used. In this embodiment, Java (registered trademark) Script is usedas a script language describing a script, though not limited thereto.

The information processing apparatus 200 requests a top page (one ofwebpages) of a website based on access information to the server 300,for example. The requested server 300 transmits an HTML documentrepresenting the top page, image data for structuring the top page, orthe like to the information processing apparatus 200 as a response.

In this embodiment, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is used as theaccess information to the server 300. A request made based on the URL istransmitted to the server 300 from the information processing apparatus200.

In addition to the request for acquiring a webpage described above,various requests based on URLs are transmitted from the informationprocessing apparatus 200 to the servers 300. Based on the requests,various types of information processing are executed by the servers 300.

For example, based on a URL indicating a storage location of a content,program, or the like, transmission processing of the content, programexecution processing, or the like is requested to the server 300. As aresult, various network services are provided to the informationprocessing apparatus 200 from the servers 300.

As described above, in this embodiment, the server 300 is requested toexecute predetermined information processing (second informationprocessing) based on a URL for accessing the server 300 (second accessinformation).

In this embodiment, data communication is held between the informationprocessing apparatus 200 and the servers 300 by HTTP (Hyper TextTransfer Protocol). In other words, an HTTP request is transmitted fromthe information processing apparatus 200 to the server 300 based on theURL. In response to the request, an HTTP response is transmitted fromthe server 300 to the information processing apparatus 200.

However, a communication protocol, a communication system, and the likeused on the Internet 10 are not particularly limited, and varioussystems may be used. The number of servers 300 on the Internet 10 isalso not particularly limited.

[Structure of Information Processing Apparatus]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a structural example ofthe information processing apparatus 200 of this embodiment. As theinformation processing apparatus 200, various computers such as a PC(Personal Computer) are used. A television receiver, a BD (Blu-ray Disc)recorder, and the like connectable to the Internet 10 may also be used.

The information processing apparatus 200 includes a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random AccessMemory) 203, an input/output interface 205, and a bus 204 for mutuallyconnecting those components.

The CPU 201 accesses the RAM 203 and the like as necessary andcollectively controls the entire blocks of the information processingapparatus 200 while executing various types of operational processing.The ROM 202 is a nonvolatile memory that fixedly stores an OS (OperatingSystem) to be run by the CPU 201 and firmware such as a program andvarious parameters. The RAM 203 is used as a working area of the CPU 201and the like and temporarily stores the OS, various applications thatare being executed, and various types of data that are being processed.

Connected to the input/output interface 205 are a display unit 206, aninput unit 207, a storage 208, a communication unit 209, a tuner unit210, a drive unit 211, and the like.

The display unit 206 is a display device that uses, for example, liquidcrystal, EL (Electro-Luminescence), or CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).

The input unit 207 is, for example, a controller, a pointing device, akeyboard, a touch panel, or other operation apparatuses. When the inputunit 207 includes the touch panel, the touch panel may be integratedwith the display unit 206.

The storage 208 is a nonvolatile storage device and is, for example, anHDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or other solid-state memories.

The tuner unit 210 receives content data of programs delivered frombroadcast stations of, for example, digital terrestrial broadcast, CSdigital broadcast, and BD digital broadcast and demodulates videosignals and audio signals.

For example, a predetermined channel is selected from a plurality ofchannels using a remote controller as the input unit 207. The tuner unit210 receives a program of the channel selected by the user and outputsit to the display unit 206. The tuner unit 210 functions as a broadcastsignal processor in this embodiment.

The drive unit 211 is a device capable of driving a removable recordingmedium 212 such as an optical recording medium, a floppy (registeredtrademark) disk, a magnetic recording tape, and a flash memory. Incontrast, the storage 208 is used as a device that is mounted on theinformation processing apparatus 200 in advance and mainly drivesunremovable recording media in many cases.

The communication unit 209 is a modem, a router, or other communicationapparatuses that are connectable to a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN(Wide Area Network), and the like and used for communicating with otherdevices. The communication unit 209 may establish either wired orwireless communication. The communication unit 209 is provided separatefrom the information processing apparatus 200 in many cases.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a structural example ofsoftware constituting the information processing apparatus 200. Theblocks shown in FIG. 3 are realized by software resources such as aprogram stored in the ROM 202, the storage 208, and the like shown inFIG. 2 cooperating with hardware resources such as the CPU 201.

In the information processing apparatus 200 of this embodiment, viewingof programs delivered from broadcast stations and a usage of networkservices can be experienced seamlessly. For example, a broadcastprogram, a website on the Internet 10, and the like are searchedseamlessly based on a search word input by the user. Moreover, whileviewing a broadcast program, the user can acquire information on theprogram, contents related to the program, and the like from the Internet10.

In addition, in the information processing apparatus 200 of thisembodiment, network services having high operability as will bedescribed later can be used. Therefore, the information processingapparatus 200 includes a service unit 220 and a framework 230 as shownin FIG. 3.

The service unit 220 includes a web browser 221, an HTTP server 222, anda plurality of plug-ins 223. The framework 230 includes a plurality ofsoftware modules 234 including a tuning module 231, a channel detectionmodule 232, a music (BGM) analysis module 233.

The web browser 221 includes a protocol stack, an HTML engine, a drawingprocessor, and a script language processing engine (all of which are notshown). The protocol stack is used for communication via the Internet10. The HTML engine interprets a webpage constituted of an HTMLdocument. The drawing processor interprets a webpage, generates adisplay image, and outputs it to the display unit 206. The scriptlanguage processing engine processes a script language in a webpage. Inthis embodiment, the web browser 221 functions as a generation unit.

By the web browser 221, an HTTP request is transmitted to the server 300on the Internet 10 based on the URL. The web browser 221 receives anHTTP response from the server 300 and executes predetermined processing.

The web browser 221 also requests the HTTP server 222 to executepredetermined information processing (first information processing)based on a URL as access information for accessing the HTTP server 222(first access information).

In other words, by the web browser 221, the HTTP request is transmittedto the HTTP server 222 based on the URL. The web browser 221 functionsas first and second request units in this embodiment.

As the URL used as the access information with respect to the HTTPserver 222, the following URLs including “localhost” and “local loopbackaddress (127.0.0.1)” are used, for example.

-   -   http://127.0.0.1:{port number}/{API name} . . .    -   http://localhost:{port number}/{API name} . . .

The HTTP server 222 receives the request based on the URL as describedabove, interprets the URL, and executes the requested first informationprocessing. Then, the HTTP server 222 transmits the processing result tothe web browser 221 as a response. The HTTP server 222 functions as anexecution unit in this embodiment.

Now, an execution operation of the first information processing by theHTTP server 222 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality ofplug-ins 223 are set in this embodiment. The plug-ins 223 are each usedas an API (Application Program Interface).

The HTTP server 222 hands over processing to a predetermined plug-inbased on the {API name} included in the URL. As a result, the plug-in223 requests an operation to a predetermined software module 234 in theframework 230. The software module 234 that has received the requestoperates predetermined software or a predetermined device. The firstinformation processing by the HTTP server 222 is executed as describedabove.

It should be noted that the execution operation of the first informationprocessing is not limited to that described above.

[Operation of Information Processing Apparatus]

An operation of the information processing apparatus 200 of thisembodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing anexample of a display image generated by the web browser 221 in thisembodiment.

In this embodiment, an instruction to execute an application accordingto the present disclosure is input by the user via a remote controlleras the input unit 207. As a result, a program 350 for executing theapplication according to the present disclosure is downloaded to theinformation processing apparatus 200 from a predetermined server 305 onthe Internet 10 as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

The web browser 221 of the information processing apparatus 200 executesthe following processing including generation processing of a displayimage 50 shown in FIG. 4 based on the downloaded program 350. It shouldbe noted that the program 350 for executing the application may bestored in the storage 208 or the like in advance.

As shown in FIG. 4, the display image 50 includes a display area 51 fordisplaying Program A of a channel selected by the user. Also in thedisplay image 50, various types of information related to Program A aredisplayed.

In this embodiment, a title 52 of Program A, a thumbnail image 53 ofProgram A, cast names 54 of Program A, a thumbnail image 55 of a workrelated to Program A, and a title 56 of the work are displayed on alower side of the display image 50. Also in the display image 50, atitle 57 of music (BGM) played in Program A, a thumbnail image 58 of themusic, and a comment 59 related to Program A are displayed.

A list 60 of other programs is displayed on a right side of the displayimage 50. Specifically, titles 61 of Programs B to H of other channels,thumbnail images 62 of Programs B to H, and comments 63 on Programs B toH are displayed. It should be noted that as the thumbnail image of aprogram, an image of one scene of the program is used, for example.Alternatively, a logo of the program or a broadcast station broadcastingthe program, or the like is used.

In this embodiment, the URL for accessing the HTTP server 222 is linkedto the thumbnail images 62 of programs of other channels out of theinformation items described above. Specifically, a hyperlink to the URLis set to the thumbnail images 62. Therefore, in this embodiment, thethumbnail images 62 of programs of other channels correspond to firstinformation associated with the first access information for accessingthe HTTP server 222.

Hyperlinks to the URLs for accessing the servers 300 on the Internet 10are set to other information items in the display image 50. In otherwords, those information items correspond to second informationassociated with the second access information for accessing the servers300 on the Internet 10 in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, when the user selects one of the thumbnail images 62of programs of other channels, switch processing to the selected channelis executed by the HTTP server 222. The channel switch processing isexecuted as the first information processing. As a result, the programdisplayed in the display area 51 of the display image 50 is changed.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram schematically showing a flow of the channelswitch processing.

A user 70 clicks the image 62 of a program of a channel that he/shewishes to view. For example, a pointer (not shown) or the like exists onthe display image 50, and the image 62 is clicked using the pointer orthe like. Alternatively, the image 62 may be displayed in focus as aselection target and clicked when a button or the like is pressed inthat state. As a result, a hyperlink for requesting tuning, that islinked to the image 62, is clicked (Step 101).

By the web browser 221, an HTTP request is output to the HTTP server 222based on the URL hyperlinked to the image 62 of another program (Step102). The HTTP server 222 that has received the request interprets theURL (Step 103) and hands over the processing to a predetermined plug-in223. Then, a tuning operation is requested to the tuning module 231 inthe framework 230 from the plug-in 223 (Step 104).

The tuning module 231 that has received the tuning operation requestoperates software that executes tuning processing or a device 235 thatexecutes the tuning processing to execute the tuning processing (Step105). As a result, the channel switch processing (tuning processing) toa program that the user wishes to view is executed (Step 106).

It should be noted that the “tuner” shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to thesoftware that executes the tuning processing, and the “SetTopBox”corresponds to the device that executes the tuning processing. Thetuning processing may be executed either by the software or device asdescribed above.

The result of the tuning processing is transmitted to the tuning module231 from the “tuner” or “SetTopBox” (Step 107). In other words,information indicating a tuning success or error is transmitted to thetuning module 231.

The tuning result is also transmitted to the HTTP server 222 from thetuning module 231 (Step 108), and an HTTP response is output to the webbrowser 221 from the HTTP server 222 based on the tuning result (Step109).

The web browser 221 that has received the HTTP response executespredetermined information processing based on the tuning result (Step110). For example, when a response indicating a tuning processingsuccess is received, a program of the switched channel is displayed inthe display area 51. When a response indicating a tuning processingerror is received, display indicating an error of the channel switchprocessing, for example, is output to the display unit 206.

It should be noted that the first information processing executed by theHTTP server 222 is not limited to the channel switch processing. Forexample, a channel of a program currently displayed in the display area51 may be detected using the channel detection module 232 included inthe framework 230 shown in FIG. 3.

For example, when the channel switch processing is a success, the webbrowser 221 requests the HTTP server 222 to execute detection processingof the channel of the changed program. As a result, predeterminedsoftware or device is operated by the channel detection module 232, andthe detection processing of the channel being viewed is executed. Whenthe detection processing is a success, information of the detectedchannel is transmitted to the web browser 221.

Then, the web browser 221 transmits the information of the channel tothe server 305 shown in FIG. 3 or the like. At this time, the webbrowser 221 also transmits a request to the server 305. Specifically, arequest for acquiring information on a program that is currently beingbroadcasted at that channel, a thumbnail image of the program, andvarious types of information related to the program is transmitted.

Based on the acquisition request for the program information, relevantinformation, and the like, the server 305 returns various types ofinformation requisite for generating the display image 50 shown in FIG.4 to the web browser 221. Accordingly, the display image 50 that isbased on the program newly displayed in the display area 51 is generatedby the web browser 221. In other words, the display image 50 in whichinformation related to the newly-displayed program is displayed isgenerated.

The channel detection processing is also executed when the display image50 is generated for the first time since the application of the presentdisclosure is executed. In this case, a channel detection request istransmitted from the web browser 221 to the HTTP server 222 when theuser 70 instructs to execute the application.

The detected channel information is transmitted from the HTTP server 222to the web browser 221. The web browser 221 transmits the channelinformation to the server 305 on the Internet 10 together with variousrequests.

From the server 305, information on the application program 350, animage for generating the display image 50, and the like is returned tothe web browser 221. Alternatively, a URL of another server 300 thatstores information requisite for the web browser 221 to generate thedisplay image 50 may be returned, for example. Based on the informationitems, the display image 50 is generated by the web browser 221.

Without being limited to the case where a URL hyperlinked to the displayimage 50 is selected as described above, a request may be transmittedfrom the web browser 221 to the HTTP server 222.

Moreover, analysis processing of music that is being played in theprogram displayed in the display area 51 may be executed using the BGManalysis module 233 included in the framework 230, for example.

In this embodiment, the BGM analysis module 233 generates a characterstring corresponding to the music being played as an analysis result.The analysis result is returned to the web browser 221.

The web browser 221 transmits the received analysis result to apredetermined server 300 on the Internet 10 together with a request. Asa result, the server 300 acquires information on a BGM corresponding tothe character string as the analysis result and returns the informationto the web browser 221.

The BGM information is acquired as described above so that the title 57of the music that is being played in the program displayed in thedisplay area 51 and the thumbnail image 58 of the music are displayed inthe display image 50. It should be noted that a request for acquiringthe thumbnail image 58 of music or the like may be transmitted again tothe server 305 or the like.

As described above, any information processing may be executed as thefirst information processing executed by the HTTP server 222. Forexample, activation processing of a predetermined application stored inthe storage 208 or the like may be executed as the first informationprocessing.

In this embodiment, the plug-ins 223 shown in FIG. 3 are generated asappropriate by, for example, Java (registered trademark) Script. Thesoftware modules 234 in the framework 230 are used as appropriate viathe plug-ins 223. As a result, information processing to be executed asthe first information processing can be set as appropriate.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram schematically showing a flow of the firstinformation processing of this embodiment. The user 70 first clicks ahyperlink for making an operation request to the inside of theinformation processing apparatus 200 (Step 201). For example, an image,characters, or the like to which a URL as the access information foraccessing the HTTP server 222 is hyperlinked is selected. Alternatively,the URL may be displayed as it is on the display image 50 to be clicked.

Based on the URL, the web browser 221 outputs an HTTP request to theHTTP server 222 (Step 202). The HTTP server 222 that has received therequest interprets the URL (Step 203) and hands over the processing to apredetermined plug-in 223. Then, the plug-in 223 requests an operationto a predetermined software module 234 in the framework 230 (Step 204).

The software module 234 that has received the operation request operatesthe software that executes the processing or the device 235 thatexecutes the processing to thus execute the processing (Steps 205 and206).

From the software or device 235 as the operation target, a processingresult is returned to the software module 234 (Step 207). The processingresult is information indicating a processing success or error.Alternatively, in a case where the first information processingrequested by the HTTP server 222 is an acquisition of predeterminedinformation, the acquired information or the like is returned as theprocessing result.

The processing result is also transmitted from the software module 234to the HTTP server 222 (Step 208) so that an HTTP response is outputfrom the HTTP server 222 to the web browser 221 based on the processingresult (Step 209).

The web browser 221 that has received the HTTP response executespredetermined information processing based on a return value(information indicating success or error, acquired information, etc.) asthe processing result (Step 210).

It should be noted that the software structure, sequence, and the likefor executing the first information processing by the HTTP server 222are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and the like. The plug-ins223 do not need to be used, for example. Arbitrary software, hardware,and the like may be used as appropriate for executing the firstinformation processing.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram schematically showing a flow of the secondinformation processing carried out by the server 300 on the Internet 10.Here, a case where the user 70 wishes to display a top page of apredetermined website will be taken as an example.

The user 70 first clicks a hyperlink for making an operation request tothe server 300 on the Internet 10 (Step 301). For example, the title 52of Program A shown in FIG. 4 is clicked. It should be noted that thehyperlinked URL is a URL of a top page of a website.

Based on the URL, the web browser 221 transmits an HTTP request to anHTTP server 320 on the Internet 10 (Step 302). The HTTP server 320 thathas received the request interprets the URL (Step 303) and requests anoperation to a backend server 325 (Step 304).

It should be noted that the HTTP server 320 and the backend server 325are included in the servers 300 on the Internet 10 shown in FIG. 1 andthe like. For example, the HTTP server 320 and the backend server 325may be realized by a single terminal. Alternatively, the HTTP server 320and the backend server 325 may be realized separately by a plurality ofapparatuses connected via a network such as the Internet 10 and the LAN.In this case, the plurality of apparatuses function as the servers 300.

The backend server 325 that has received the operation request executesthe second information processing (Step 305). Accordingly, a fileincluding an HTML document indicating a top page of a website isacquired.

A processing result is returned to the HTTP server 320 on the Internet10 from the backend server 325 (Step 306). The processing result is, forexample, the acquired file or information indicating an error inacquiring the file.

The processing result is transmitted as an HTTP response to the webbrowser 221 of the information processing apparatus 200 from the HTTPserver 320 (Step 307). The web browser 221 that has received the HTTPresponse executes predetermined information processing based on a returnvalue as the processing result (Step 308). Here, display of a top pageof a website or the like is executed.

It should be noted that the second information processing executed bythe server 300 on the Internet 10 is not limited at all. Various typesof information processing for providing various network services to theinformation processing apparatus 200 may be executed as the secondinformation processing as appropriate.

Here, an operation example of the information processing apparatus 200at a time the second information displayed in the display image 50 shownin FIG. 4 is selected will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the display image 50 at a time thetitle 52 of Program A in the display image 50 and the thumbnail image 53of Program A are selected. In this embodiment, a URL of a top page 80 ofa website of Program A is linked to the title 52 of Program A and thethumbnail image 53 of Program A. Alternatively, a URL of a page relatedto Program A in a website of a broadcast station broadcasting Program Amay be linked.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the title 52 of Program A or the like isclicked, the top page 80 of the website of Program A is displayed in anarea 81 on the right-hand side of the display image 50. Accordingly, theuser can specifically check information on Program A and sufficientlyenjoy viewing it.

For example, understanding of a content by a user or emotionalinvolvement with respect to a content is expected to become profound.Further, since there is a difference in a knowledge range or interestrange between a programmer and a user, an expression that cannot beunderstood by a user may be made in a program. Even in such a case,sufficient knowledge can be acquired from a website of the program, forexample, so that the user can view the program while sufficientlygrasping an intention of the programmer and the like.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the display image 50 at a time oneof the cast names 54 of Program A in the display image 50 is selected.

In this embodiment, a URL of the server 300 having a search enginecapable of executing search processing based on a keyword is linked toeach of the cast names 54, for example. To Performer A, a URL of a pagethat has been searched based on a keyword “Performer A” is linked. Sucha URL is generated when Performer A is clicked, for example. Also toPerformers B and C, URLs of pages as search results for Performers B andC are linked.

As shown in FIG. 9, when Performer A or the like is clicked, a webpage82 showing a search result obtained based on the keyword “Performer A”is displayed in the area 81 on the right-hand side of the display image50. Accordingly, the user can acquire information on a profile ofPerformer A, other works of Performer A, and the like. In other words,the user can more-specifically check the information on Performer A andsufficiently enjoy viewing Program A.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the display image 50 at a timethe thumbnail image 55 of a work related to Program A in the displayimage 50, the title 56 of the work, the title 57 of music (BGM) playedin Program A, and the thumbnail image 58 of the music are selected.

In this embodiment, URLs of websites at which video contents, musiccontents, and the like can be purchased online are linked to the imagesdescribed above. In such websites, a content is designated by a user,and a predetermined purchase operation is executed. The purchasedcontent is provided to the information processing apparatus 200 by, forexample, streaming or download. Alternatively, a BD, a DVD, or the likeonto which the content is recorded may be purchased online.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the thumbnail image 55 of the work related toProgram A or the like is clicked, a webpage 83 of a website at which acontent can be purchased is displayed in the area 81 on the right-handside of the display image 50. The webpage 83 is a page for purchasingthe work related to Program A or a BGM played in Program A.

As shown in FIG. 10, information 84 on other relevant products is alsodisplayed in the webpage 83. As a result, the user can purchase acontent related to Program A and sufficiently enjoy viewing Program A.

It should be noted that buttons 64 described as Site A are providedbelow the title 56 of a relevant product and the title 57 of a BGM inthe display image 50. Site A is a website at which online purchase ispossible. When the button 64 is pressed, a top page of a website isdisplayed. For example, by pressing the button 64 when wishing topurchase a content unrelated to Program A, the user can jump to a toppage. As a result, user operability is improved.

Further, an update button 65 is provided below the title 57 of a BGM.For example, the user clicks the update button 65 when music played inthe program changes. As a result, information on the BGM is updated.Specifically, when the update button 65 is clicked, a BGM analysisrequest is transmitted from the web browser 221 to the internal HTTPserver 222. Therefore, the update button 65 corresponds to the firstinformation, and a URL of the HTTP server 222 is linked thereto.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the display image 50 at a timethe comment 59 related to Program A in the display image 50 is selected.

First, the comment 59 will be described. As the network service providedby the server 300 on the Internet 10, there is a service of displayingcomments posted by users in a time series. The posted comments aredisplayed in an area called timeline.

In this embodiment, Website C is opened by the server 300, and the usercan use the service via Website C.

Such a service is a so-called communication service. For example, theuser can display comments of other users in his/her own timeline andpost a comment with respect to the comments of other users or browseresponses thereto.

In FIGS. 4, 11, and the like, comments A1 and A2 are displayed as thecomment 59. The comments A1 and A2 are comments on Program A that havebeen posted by users using the network service described above.

The comments A1 and A2 are searched and displayed as appropriate ascomments on Program A. For example, when a comment includes a keywordrelated to Program A or the like, comments are searched for based on thekeyword and displayed in the display image 50 in real time. The commentsA1 and A2 are displayed in a scroll in a lateral direction, and anewly-posted comment is sequentially displayed in real time.

In this embodiment, the web browser 221 transmits a request to acquireinformation for displaying the comment 59 on Program A to the server 305shown in FIG. 3. The information for displaying the comment 59 is, forexample, a URL of a webpage in which the comment 59 on Program A isdisplayed in Website C.

When the URL is returned from the server 305, the web browser 221transmits a request to acquire the comment 59 to the server 300providing Website C based on the received URL.

Alternatively, a URL of a search page in Website C may be requested asthe information for displaying the comment 59. The web browser 221 thathas received the URL may request search processing for the comment 59 onProgram A and an acquisition of a result thereof based on the URL.

In this embodiment, a URL of a webpage 85 in Website C is linked to thecomment 59 on Program A. The webpage 85 is a page in which a list ofcomments 59 on Program A that have been searched for in Website C isdisplayed.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the comment 59 on Program A is clicked, thewebpage 85 is displayed in the area 81 on the right-hand side of thedisplay image 50. The displayed comments 59 are updated in real time.

As shown in FIG. 11, the comment 59 may sometimes include a URL 66. Byclicking the URL 66, the user can jump to a top page of a predeterminedwebsite, for example.

When a button 67 described as Site C in FIG. 11 is clicked, a top pageof Website C is displayed in the area 81. Alternatively, a timeline ofthe user may be displayed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, thumbnail images 68 such as a face and acharacter are displayed in the comments A1 and A2. The thumbnail images68 are each an icon that a user who posts the comment can freely set.Therefore, although the same image is illustrated as the thumbnailimages 68 in FIGS. 4, 11, and the like, different images are used fordifferent users in actuality.

The icons are hyperlinked to timelines of respective users. Therefore,when the icon is clicked, a timeline of a corresponding user isdisplayed in the area 81 on the right-hand side of the display image 50.

Since the user can use such a service while viewing Program A displayedin the display area 51, evaluations of other people on Program A,maniacal information on Program A, and the like can be acquired so thatthe user can sufficiently enjoy viewing Program A.

Further, since a feeling of viewing Program A with a large number ofother users posting the comments can be obtained, liveliness and a levelof excitement can be increased. In addition, by viewing the comments ofother users, it is possible to grasp a content that is currently drawingattention.

Next, the list 60 of other programs being broadcasted shown in FIG. 4will be described. As described above, when one of the thumbnail images62 of other programs is clicked, the channel switch processing isexecuted by the internal HTTP server 222.

When the titles 61 of Programs B to H of other channels and the comments63 on Programs B to H of other channels are clicked, a list of thecomments 63 on the clicked program is displayed. In other words, awebpage showing a list of the comments 63 that is almost the same as thewebpage 85 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. As a result, evaluations,information, and the like of other Programs B to H can be viewed.

When a button 69 displayed on the right-hand side of the comment 63 foreach of Programs B to H (see FIG. 4) is clicked, a top page of a websiteor a timeline screen is displayed.

The network services described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11, changesof UIs (User Interfaces) of the display image 50 based on the services,and the like are mere examples and are not limited at all. In FIGS. 8 to11, the top page and the like have been displayed in the area 81 on theright-hand side of the display image 50. However, a screen may shiftfrom the display image 50 to a top page or the like every time ahyperlink is clicked. Further, the structure of the display image 50including the position and size of the display area 51 in which aprogram is displayed is also not limited at all. By appropriatelyselecting the hyperlinked URL, a desired network service can be used.

In the information processing apparatus 200 of this embodiment, thedisplay image 50 including the first information associated with a URLas the first access information and the second information associatedwith a URL as the second access information is generated. The URL as thefirst access information is information for accessing the HTTP server222 of the information processing apparatus 200, and the HTTP server 222is requested to execute the first information processing based on theURL. The URL as the second access information is information foraccessing the server 300 on the Internet 10 as the global network, andthe server 300 is requested to execute the second information processingbased on the URL.

Accordingly, by appropriately setting the URLs as the second accessinformation, various network services can be provided by the servers 300on the Internet 10. In addition, it becomes possible to request the HTTPserver 222 as the execution unit of its own to execute the firstinformation processing using hyperlinks to the URLs as the first accessinformation.

As a result, the processing request to the servers 300 on the Internet10 and the processing request to the internal HTTP server 222 can bothbe realized using HTTP. Accordingly, the display image 50 in which ahyperlink to the server 300 on the Internet 10 and a hyperlink to theinternal HTTP server 222 exist can be generated as a single webpagedescribed in HTML.

By operating the thus-generated display image 50, the user can usevarious network services while making a channel switch operation, amusic analysis operation, and the like. As a result, operability of theuser using the information processing apparatus 200 can be improved.Moreover, a usability range can be widened.

In the display image 50, the UI for accessing a website on the Internet10 or the like (second information) and the UI for making an operationto the information processing apparatus 200 itself (first information)exist seamlessly. As a result, operability and understandability of anapplication are improved. Therefore, user operability can be improved.

Also in this embodiment, the program 350 for executing an application,including the generation processing of the display image 50, is storedin the server 305 shown in FIG. 3. By downloading the program 350 in theinformation processing apparatus 200, the operation described above isexecuted. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately execute the changeor upgrade of the program 350 and the like on the server 305 side. As aresult, operability of the user using the information processingapparatus 200 can be improved.

It should be noted that HTTP, HTML, and the like are well-knowntechniques, and by using such techniques as appropriate, a generalversatility of the technique described above can be enhanced. Forexample, the application program 350 can be easily produced asappropriate according to a specification of an apparatus that is toexecute the services described above.

Second Embodiment

An information processing apparatus and information processing systemaccording to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. In descriptions below, descriptions on parts having the samestructures and operations as those of the network system 100 and theinformation processing apparatus 200 that have been described in theabove embodiment will be omitted or simplified.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a network system including aninformation processing apparatus and an information processing systemaccording to this embodiment.

The network system 400 includes the Internet 10 as the global networkand the plurality of servers 300 connected to the Internet 10. Theplurality of servers 300 are capable of providing network services.

As shown in FIG. 12, the network system 400 includes a mobile terminal401 and an information processing terminal 402 that are connected via alocal network 410. The mobile terminal 401 and the informationprocessing terminal 402 are connected to the Internet 10 via the localnetwork 410.

The mobile terminal 401 functions as a second information processingterminal in this embodiment and also corresponds to the informationprocessing apparatus in this embodiment. The information processingterminal 402 functions as a first information processing terminal inthis embodiment. An information processing system 490 of this embodimentis realized by the mobile terminal 401 and the information processingterminal 402.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, the information processingapparatus 200 has included the web browser 221 and the HTTP server 222,and a request has been transmitted from the web browser 221 to the HTTPserver 222 based on the URL of the HTTP server 222.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the information processingsystem 490 is realized by the mobile terminal 401 including a webbrowser 421 and the information processing terminal 402 including anHTTP server 422.

The web browser 421 generates a display image including firstinformation associated with a URL for accessing the informationprocessing terminal 402 capable of executing the first informationprocessing (first access information) and second information associatedwith a URL for accessing the server 300 on the Internet 10 that iscapable of executing the second information processing (second accessinformation).

The web browser 421 requests the information processing terminal 402 toexecute the first information processing based on the URL associatedwith the first information. Specifically, the web browser 421 requeststhe HTTP server 422 of the information processing terminal 402 toexecute the first information processing. The web browser 421 alsorequests the server 300 to execute the second information processingbased on the URL associated with the second information.

The web browser 421 functions as the generation unit, the first requestunit, and the second request unit in this embodiment.

Examples of the first and second information processing include thosedescribed in the first embodiment. Examples of the first and secondinformation also include those described in the first embodiment.Specifically, in this embodiment, the web browser 421 and the HTTPserver 422 are provided separately in two apparatuses 401 and 402connected via the local network 410, respectively, instead of beingprovided in a single apparatus.

An example of an operation of the information processing system 490structured as described above will be described. FIG. 13 is a schematicdiagram showing the mobile terminal 401, for explaining the operation.

A user using the mobile terminal 401 makes an instruction to execute anapplication of the present disclosure. As a result, an applicationprogram is downloaded to the mobile terminal 401 from a predeterminedserver on the Internet 10.

The web browser 421 of the mobile terminal 401 displays a display image450 on a display 403 of the mobile terminal 401 based on the program. Itshould be noted that a predetermined request may be transmitted from theweb browser 421 to the HTTP server 422 of the information processingterminal 402 when generating the display image 450.

FIG. 13 schematically shows an example of the display image 450. Here, alist 460 of other programs is displayed on the display 403. The list 460includes thumbnail images 462 of other programs and information 463(title etc.) on the programs.

The list 460 is displayed as a user viewing a program displayed in adisplay area (not shown) of the display image 450 scrolls the displayimage 450. The scroll operation is made by a touch operation to thedisplay 403, for example. Alternatively, the list 460 may be displayedwhen a predetermined button or the like is pressed.

In this embodiment, URLs of websites of programs are linked to theinformation 463 of the respective programs. The websites are provided bypredetermined servers 300 on the Internet 10. Therefore, the information463 of the programs corresponds to the second information. When theinformation 463 is clicked, a website of the corresponding program isdisplayed on the display 403 of the mobile terminal 401.

A URL for accessing the HTTP server 422 of the information processingterminal 402 is linked to the thumbnail images 462 of the programs. TheURL includes, for example, an IP address of the information processingterminal 402. In this embodiment, the URL includes a name of API used inthe channel switch processing.

When the thumbnail images 462 of the programs are clicked, a request forthe channel switch processing is transmitted to the HTTP server 422 ofthe information processing terminal 402 based on the hyperlinked URL.The request is transmitted via the local network 410.

The HTTP server 422 that has received the request interprets the URL andhands over the processing to a predetermined plug-in. Then, the plug-inrequests a tuning module of the information processing terminal 402 toexecute a tuning operation.

A result of the tuning processing by the tuning module is returned tothe HTTP server 422. Then, the processing result is transmitted from theHTTP server 422 to the web browser 421 via the local network 410. Theweb browser 421 that has received the processing result executespredetermined information processing based on the tuning result.

As described above, the information processing terminal 402 thatexecutes the first information processing and the mobile terminal 401capable of generating the display image 450 and requesting theinformation processing terminal 402 and the servers 300 to executeinformation processing may be connected via the local network 410. As aresult, operability of the user using the mobile terminal 401 can beimproved.

It should be noted that the information processing terminal 402 mayinclude the web browser 221 described in the first embodiment. In otherwords, the information processing terminal 402 may operate as theinformation processing apparatus 200 described in the first embodiment.

Examples of the mobile terminal 401 include a cellular phone terminalsuch as a smartphone and various PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) suchas a tablet terminal. However, the apparatus used as the secondinformation processing terminal is not limited to the portable terminal.For example, a PC may be used.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE

The embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to theembodiments described above and can be variously modified.

For example, FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a modified exampleof the display image 50 shown in FIG. 4. The display image 550 has alarger display area 551 in which a program is displayed than the displayimage 50 shown in FIG. 4. Below the display area 551, comments 559 onProgram A are displayed as the second information. On a right-hand sideof the display area 551, thumbnail images 562 of programs are displayedas the first information.

The structure of the display image can be set as appropriate asdescribed above. For example, assuming that a predetermined time or moreduring which a user operation is not input has continued while thedisplay image 50 is being displayed in the first embodiment, the displayimage 50 shown in FIG. 4 may be automatically switched to the displayimage 550 of the modified example. The state where an operation is notinput is highly likely a state where a program is being viewed.Therefore, by displaying the display image 550 of the modified example,a program can be sufficiently viewed, with the result that operabilityis improved. It should be noted that the display image may be switchedwhen a predetermined button or the like is pressed.

In the descriptions above, the display image has been generated as awebpage. However, the display image is not limited to a webpage and maybe generated as a screen of an OS or an application. Specifically, thedisplay image only needs to be an image in which access information foraccessing a server on the global network and access information foraccessing its own execution unit (CPU etc.) exist. It should be notedthat the access information is also not limited to the URL.

When a hyperlink in the display image is clicked, a page often jumps toa different page, though not limited thereto. For example, a window forinputting a comment is displayed on the display image, and a comment isinput to the window. When a posting button is clicked, the comment istransmitted to a server linked to the posting button. In this case, theposted comment is displayed, but the screen does not jump to a differentpage.

The present disclosure is not limited to the case where information on ahyperlink destination is statically stored in a predetermined server inadvance. For example, a page that displays comments of other users thathave been posted in real time is generated when the hyperlink isclicked. Alternatively, a page of the hyperlink destination and the likemay be generated dynamically by a script and the like.

A predetermined program may be executed when a UI on the display imageis clicked, and a hyperlink destination may be determined based on theexecution result. Specifically, to which server an inquiry or request isto be transmitted may be undetermined before the UI is clicked. In otherwords, which of the first information and the second information the UIis may be undetermined before the UI is clicked. The UI becomes thefirst information when the UI is clicked and a hyperlink to the internalHTTP server or the like is set. The UI becomes the second informationwhen the UI is clicked and a hyperlink to a server on the Internet isset.

Another example of the first information processing executed by theinternal HTTP server 222 of the first embodiment and the HTTP server 422of the information processing terminal of the second embodiment will bedescribed.

For example, as the information processing apparatus according to theembodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus connected to a BDrecorder or the like or an apparatus including a BD recorder or the likemay be used. In this case, information on a BD currently loaded in arecorder, or the like may be detected in response to a request from aweb browser. In other words, BD information detection processing may beexecuted as the first information processing. The information on a BDmay be detected when a request is made by the web browser, or theinformation on a BD may be stored when the disc is loaded so that theinformation is read out from the disc.

For example, as the embodiment of the present disclosure, an informationprocessing apparatus including a functional block that functions as alog uploader may be used. By the log uploader, a reproduction log of achannel being viewed, a user operation log, and the like are uploaded toa predetermined server. Control of the log uploader and the like may beexecuted by the HTTP server or the like as the first informationprocessing, the example of which is predetermined log deletionprocessing.

In the descriptions above, the HTTP server has been taken as an exampleof the execution unit, and the web browser has been taken as an exampleof the generation unit and the first and second request units. However,the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and other software andhardware may be used instead. Moreover, the generation unit and thefirst and second request units may be provided separately.

In the descriptions above, information on a program being viewed hasbeen acquired, and information related to the program being viewed hasbeen displayed in the display image based on the acquired information.However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. Forexample, there is a case where the information on a program being viewedis not used, and the information related to the program is not acquired.In this case, information preset as a recommended program or music,information on a weather forecast, and the like may be displayed in thedisplay image. In addition, a hyperlink may be set to the information asappropriate.

It is also possible to use a moving image content delivery serviceprovided by a server on the Internet and display the delivered movingimage content in the display image. For example, the moving imagecontent is hyperlinked to the server.

In the descriptions above, comments posted by other users have beendisplayed in the display image. Alternatively, programs being viewed byother users, programs recommended by other users, and the like may bedisplayed in the display image. Alternatively, information onto whichprofiles, preference information, relationships with friends, andrecommended contents of other users are reflected may be displayed inthe display image. Moreover, chats with other users may be enabled to beperformed in the display image.

In the descriptions above, HTTP has been used as the communicationprotocol. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, andother protocols or communication methods may be used instead. Similarly,the protocol for hyperlinks is also not limited to HTTP and may be anyprotocol as long as a request can be made to other servers (computers).

In the descriptions above, content data of a program delivered from abroadcast station has been received by the tuner unit, and the broadcastprogram has been displayed in the display image. However, the embodimentof the present disclosure is of course not limited to the case where aprogram is viewed. For example, reproduction of music recorded onto arecording medium such as a CD and a use of a network service associatedwith the music reproduction may be realized with high operability.Alternatively, viewing of photographed digital photos, pictures, and thelike and a use of a network service associated with the viewing may berealized with high operability.

It should be noted that the present disclosure may also take thefollowing structures.

-   -   (1) An information processing apparatus, including:        -   an execution unit capable of executing first information            processing;        -   a generation unit configured to generate a display image            including first information associated with first access            information for accessing the execution unit and second            information associated with second access information for            accessing a server on a global network, the server being            capable of executing second information processing;        -   a first request unit configured to request the execution            unit to execute the first information processing based on            the first access information associated with the first            information; and        -   a second request unit configured to request the server to            execute the second information processing based on the            second access information associated with the second            information.    -   (2) The information processing apparatus according to (1),        further including        -   a broadcast signal processor configured to receive a program            of a channel selected from a plurality of channels by a user            and output the program,        -   in which the display image includes a display area for            displaying the program, and        -   in which the first information processing includes switch            processing of the channels.    -   (3) The information processing apparatus according to (1) or        (2),        -   in which the first information processing includes analysis            processing for music that is being played in the program.    -   (4) The information processing apparatus according to any one        of (1) to (3),        -   in which the first access information and the second access            information are each a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: an execution unitcapable of executing first information processing; a generation unitconfigured to generate a display image including first informationassociated with first access information for accessing the executionunit and second information associated with second access informationfor accessing a server on a global network, the server being capable ofexecuting second information processing; a first request unit configuredto request the execution unit to execute the first informationprocessing based on the first access information associated with thefirst information; and a second request unit configured to request theserver to execute the second information processing based on the secondaccess information associated with the second information.